27 Actors That Underwent Killer Transformations For Roles In True Crime Shows

Why are we so obsessed with true crime?

Kylin

• Published in Film & TV
• May 29, 2022

While it feels like the true-crime genre is a recent fad, it was actually popularized in 1966 by Truman Capote’s book In Cold Blood, which was adapted into a film with the same name the following year by Richard Brooks. It’s just that the invention of the internet and streaming platforms have provided instant access to podcasts and shows about gripping tales of crime.

The 2020 pandemic and lockdown left people with a lot of free time and a desire for escapism, which helped true-crime stories thrive. So, if there has been a killer, a kidnapping, a found body, or even a gun-wielding, heterosexual-husband-grooming (with crystal meth) exotic animal park owner with a temper, chances are it’s been a central plot to a docuseries on Hulu, Netflix or a podcast.

Adweek has observed that there has been a “dramatic increase” in interest in the true crime genre, with several true-crime shows ranking among the top 10 on Netflix in April 2021. But for shows like The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story, The Act, or Law & Order: True Crime, actors had to go through some serious transformations.

Portraying a real person can be intimidating just in general, but portraying a real-life murderer? That’s got to be some heavy shit.

But there have been some incredible actors that were up to the part. That’s why we collected a list of 27 actors who underwent some killer transformations for their parts in true crime shows.

1. Penelope Cruz

The Spanish actress wore a very blonde wig to play Donatella Versace, sister of Gianni Versace, in Ryan Murphy's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

2. Addison Timlin

The actress played Colleen Stan, a kidnap victim who was kept in a box and used as a sex slave for seven years by Cameron Hooker in the movie Girl in the Box.

3. Sarah Paulson

The actress was awarded an Emmy for her portrayal of Marcia Clark, the lead prosecutor in the FX's The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

4. Renée Zellweger

Zellweger underwent a dramatic transformation with the help of prosthetics and body padding to play her part as Pam Hupp in NBC's The Thing About Pam.

5. Darren Criss

The former Glee star took on the role of spree killer Andrew Cunanan in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

6. Eric Dane

The former Grey's Anatomy star played a member of the Manson Family, Charles "Tex" Watson, in the TV 2014 movie Helter Skelter

7. Zelda Williams

The daughter of the late Robin Williams took on the role of Cameron Hooker's wife and accomplice, Janice Hooker, in the TV movie Girl in the Box.

8. Rob Lowe

Lowe donned a mustache when he took on the role of former police sergeant Drew Peterson, who was convicted of his 3rd wife's death, in Lifetime's Drew Peterson: Untouchable.

9. Cuba Gooding Jr.

The Oscar winner portrayed O.J. Simpson in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

10. Taryn Manning

The actress starred as a 10-year kidnapping victim Michelle Knight in the Lifetime movie Cleveland Abduction.

11. John Travolta

The actor went back to his TV roots when he played the famed defense attorney, Robert Shapiro who was part of O.J. Simpson's legal team in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

12. Edie Falco

The actress suited up as the defense lawyer, Leslie Abramson on the first season of Law & Order: True Crime, which focused on the famous Menendez brothers' murder case.

13. Jessica Biel

Biel sports oversized glasses and curly hair to become the accused ax-murderer, Candy Montgomery In the Hulu series Candy.

14. Tania Raymonde

The actress dons into the infamous hairstyle of Jodi Arias in the made-for-television movie Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret.

15. Al Pacino

The iconic actor wore quite the wig as the eccentric super-producer and titular character, Phil Spector in HBO's Phil Spector.

16. Joey King

The actress had to shave her head for the role of Gypsy Rose Blanchard in Hulu's mini-series The Act.

17. Patricia Arquette

And Patricia Arquette gained a significant amount of weight to play Gypsy Rose Blanchard's mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, in The Act.

18. Edgar Ramirez

The actor had a drastically changed his appearance for his role as Gianni Versace, the murdered Italian fashion designer, in Ryan Murphy's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

19. Christina Ricci

The star stepped up for the role of the infamous Lizzie Borden in both the TV movie Lizzie Borden Took an Ax and the mini-series The Lizzie Borden Chronicles.

20. Rob Lowe

For some reason, the actor is drawn to true crime. This time, Lowe played the victim, Ben Novack Jr., in the made-for-TV movie Beautiful & Twisted.

21. Alyssa Milano

The Charmed actress played the infamous teen, Amy Fisher, in Lifetime's film Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story.

22. Connie Britton

Connie Britton took on the role of Debra Newell in Bravo's true-crime TV series Dirty John.

23. Jean Smart

The Fargo veteran is almost unrecognizable as Debra's mother Arlane Hart in Dirty John.

26. Eric Bana

The star moved back into TV for the role of John Meehan, a con artist with a penchant for rich women in Dirty John. 

25. Hayden Panettiere

The actress starred as Amanda Knox, who was wrongfully convicted of murder, in the Lifetime movie Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial.

24. Paul Walter Hauser

Hauser lost 40 pounds and had hair and make-up teams perfectly style his hair and muttonchop sideburns to play suspected serial killer Larry Hall In Apple TV+'s Black Bird

27. Gethin Anthony

The Game of Thrones star underwent quite the physical transformation to play the role of the Manson Family's leader Charles Manson in the drama Aquarius. 

Have you seen any of the shows that were mentioned in the list? Do you think the actors' cast did a good job or did they hit the serial killer mark?

Let us know what you think of the shows in the comments sections. And if we missed an actor who you thought killed it in their role for a true-crime show, drop their names below!

Kylin